Brussels in January
 

I’m going back to Brussels in January for four nights (1/7-10) Not an ideal time of year I know, but we’re attending a wedding in Cambridge and this will be a side trip before returning home to San Diego. I stayed at the NH Grand Sablon last year and thought we’d try either the NH Brussels Grand Place or the Novotel this time. One person in our group isn’t as mobile so thought being closer to the Grand Place might be better for us. My son wants to visit breweries (Cantillion, L’Annexe, Beer Project) we’ll probably do walking tours as that worked out well for us last year. Any suggestions for great Belgium cuisine, or other hotel suggestion always appreciated.

Hi RoxAnn, nice to hear you are taking another short hop to Brussels. You arrive just after the Winter Wonders market finishes - probably it would be getting a bit tired by the sixth so this is not necessarily a bad thing .... the hotels you have picked are both really well-located, although I had to look up the NH as I don't know it myself. But yes, close to GP. Since you are interested in beer / breweries I will point you towards an old-style café near the NH, À la Mort Subite, which brews its own beer (although I don't think it's on the premises, seeing the process isn't part of the deal). It's a traditional estaminet which serves snacks alongside the beer.

Another hotel you might consider is the Dominican, but it is a bit pricey, or at least, pricier than the Novotel, but it's not far away.

There are a bunch of restaurants in your area, some of the better-known ones are Vincent, Aux Armes de Bruxelles, Le Marmiton, Restaurant de l'Ogenblik, Taverne du Passage. All of those have a good reputation and serve Belgian or Franco-Belgian food. Aux Armes de Bruxelles is owned by the Vanlancker family, who also owns Chez Léon, which I mentioned in another thread just a day or two ago (also great but much cheaper, specialising in mussels).

Have a look at these suggestions, anyway, and good luck!

Lavandula

Thanks for the restaurant recommendations. I’ll check out The Dominion. The room rates are reduced considerably after the holidays. The NH chain was so great in Ghent and the Sablon area of Brussels (room, staff, breakfast and price) that I thought I’d stick with them. I saw that we were missing the market. Darn! We had just missed the flower festival in 2023 too. Thanks again.

What do you think of Hotel des Galeries? I was considering the Dominican but I just read a review saying it was a bit tired.

This is the one in the Galeries Royales de St-Hubert, right? I don't have any personal experience there to draw on but as a location it would be fabulous. I have also seen photos of the rooms and they are quite simple - I don't know if that bothers you or not but it would not be as luxurious as a NH. But again, wow, what a location and all the cafés and restaurants literally at your toes. If you stay there you must write a trip report!

The Dominican, even if tired, would still be a really good choice, although it is pricey. There are a lot of things about a hotel that are not affected by tired furnishings - small touches like how the butter is served at breakfasts (in little twists of paper), for example - that still make this a good hotel.

Lavandula

I’m in my usual quandary. The ones I’m considering in order are:
The Domincan
Hotel des Galeries
Le Dixseptieme
Radisson Grand Place

We’re arriving around 3:00 and will have dinner with family who are only staying one night in Brussels. What would be your top choice for an authentic Belgian dinner? Le Rendezvous de Artiste? Aux Armes de Bruxelles? Chez Vincent? We’ll probably have lunch at Chez Leon the next day before they leave.

If it's a more generous budget then I'd pick Vincent, which has a very good reputation. It is also within walking distance of the hotels you mention. Aux Armes de Bruxelles and Chez Léon are similarly in the Lower Town, while Le Rendezvous des Artistes is in the Upper Town (I usually stay near here in the Louise quarter, it's a short metro ride or a decent walk away from Gare Centrale (Central Station metro)).

Lavandula

We’re back from our trip to Cambridge and Brussels. We had a fantastic trip albeit very chilly. The weather threatened rain and snow and we got both, but managed to have dry daytime weather while we explored the sights. We missed the Christmas market by a day, but the lights were still up and when it snowed one night the scene was magical. We stayed at The Dominican in Brussels and it was fantastic. Quiet location and a close walk to the Grand Place. Filled up on mussels, Belgian stew, frites, beer, waffles, and chocolate. And did I mention beer? We lost track of the pubs we sauntered into. Delirium, Moeder Lambic, A La Becasse, Cantillon…….thanks to all who contributed ideas for our trip.

What a lovely pairing, glad you enjoyed your trip. I do like winter trips - even if the weather is miserable, there are usually no queues and sometimes also pretty street decorations that you just don't get in summer. Nice hotel, too.

Lavandula

The Dominican was terrific and thank you for the suggestion. I’m not sure who wrote the review that “it was a bit tired”. The beds were luxurious, best night’s sleep I had the whole trip. The bar was wonderful as was the breakfast. And so close to everything. Everyone in my group was thrilled with the choice.